For readers of mythology, an original and introspective journey through the life of the Buddha accompanied by 26 beautiful color illustrations and 8 meditations.

From longtime Zen teacher and poet John Tarrant comes an original retelling of the foundational myth of Buddhism—the life of the Buddha. Told and retold for centuries, this story holds a special place in the human legacy because it is, ultimately, an investigation of the nature of mind and consciousness.

Tarrant leans into his memories of the Egyptian and Greek myths he encountered as a child. “If we pour ourselves into the story of the Buddha,” he writes, “we enter the journey from an unusual place as far as myths go; we begin where the Odyssey ends.” The Buddha already had everything—a palace, family, food, wealth—yet he was suffocating with discontent. He needed to embark on a journey involving pain, searching, magic, and personal discovery. This led to his awakening and the teachings that form the basis of Buddhism.

With twenty-six gorgeous historical illustrations and eight meditations drawn from the Zen tradition, the Buddha’s story becomes your own story, opening an unexpected path to awakening. If you listen to the images that arise in its telling, you can find where you are in life and where you are headed.